nominativus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [noː.mɪ.naːˈtiː.wʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [no.mi.naˈtiː.vus]^[1]

Forms

nōminātīvus (feminine nōminātīva, neuter nōminātīvum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from nōminō “to name” with the suffix -īvus, a calque of Ancient Greek ὀνομαστική (onomastikḗ) (⟨ptôsis⟩), the naming case.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD, Gaffiot and Köbler cite Varro's De lingua Latina.^[2][4][5] Köbler dates Varro 116–27 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In grammar cāsus nōminātīvus, or simply nōminātīvus, was the nominative case, as in Varro; the late grammarian Consentius uses it more generally, serving to name.^[2][6][4]

Medieval Latin used it for named, and for bearing someone's name as a memorial.^[7] British Medieval Latin used it of the nominative case, as in Aldhelm.^[8] English nominative came through Old French in the late 14th century.^[3]

Timeline

• 116–27 BC – Varro uses it.^[2][5]
• late 14th century – English nominative is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (grammar) Nominative; serving to name.^[2][4]
2. (Medieval Latin) Named; bearing a name as a memorial.^[7]

Noun

1. (grammar) The nominative case.^[4][8]

Related words

• nōminō
• nōmen
• cāsus
• English nominative

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press